Monthly Archives: March 2013

The very protest against God in the face of evil in fact presupposes God’s existence. Why are we disturbed about the brute and blind force of tsunamis that snuff out people’s lives — including those of children who were lured, as if by some sinister design, onto the beaches by fish left exposed in the shallows because the waters had retreated just before the tidal wave came? If the world is all there is, and the world with moving tectonic plates is a world in which we happen to live, what’s there to complain about? We can mourn — we’ve lost something terribly dear. But we can’t really complain, and we certainly can’t legitimately protest.

The expectation that the world should be a hospitable place, with no devastating mishaps, is tied to the belief that the world ought to be constituted in a certain way. And that belief — as distinct from the belief that the world just is what it is — is itself tied to the notion of a creator. And that brings us to God. It is God who makes possible our protest that there is evil in the world. And it is God against whom we protest. God is both the ground of the protest and its target. Almost paradoxically, we protest with God against God. How can I believe in God when tsunamis strike? I protest, and therefore I believe.

But you protest, “we should not tolerate hatred.” Correct. And the point being, in and of themselves,

…tolerance is not a virtue,

…acceptance isn’t commendable,

…open-mindedness isn’t something to aspire to.

There is evil in this world and it should be hated and extinguished. We all know and practice this. It’s the height of wickedness to accept and tolerate evil.

Calling someone intolerant might be a good way to jockey points and “win” an argument, but just don’t pretend you have the moral high ground.

As kids we used to call each other faggots; nowadays we call each other bigots.

You’re just as bigoted and intolerant as your opponent … and good for you! We should applaud and celebrate being closed-minded to evil and wicked things.

So enough name calling already. Let’s discuss, engage, and debate what is abhorrent, whether genocide, slave tracking, violence against women, or Fred Phelps.

And if you think being against marriage equality is wicked, immoral, and must be stopped, just so say. Calling such people intolerant is not only unhelpful, it’s blatantly hypocritical. And we all hate hypocrisy.

So I’m proud to be a bigoted, intolerant, hate-filled, closed-minded person.

Won’t you join me? (I bet you already have.)

P.S. And if you disagree with me, here is a perfect chance to practice your open-mindedness and tolerance. Cause you can only tolerate those whom you disagree with.